Media validation system

ABSTRACT

A media validation system including a plurality of media storage devices which contain a quantity of content thereon, a user computer processor assembly structured to operatively access a select media storage device, a verification module, and a communicative link between the verification module and the user computer processor assembly. Each of the media storage devices includes a unique unit identifier, the verification module identifying the unique unit identifier of the select media storage device and receiving user information associated therewith. The verification module is also structured to apply a reward credit in association with only a first user whose user information is associated with the unique unit identifier for the select media storage device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of and claims the benefit ofU.S. pending application Ser. No. 12/608,219, filed Oct. 29, 2009, whichis a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.11/226,561 filed Sep. 14, 2005, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,631,000,which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/178,041, filed Jun. 21, 2002, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,952,697, all of which we incorporate herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a media validation system which can beutilized in association with any of a variety of types of media storagedevices including DVD's and CD's, the validation system associating auser reward aspect in a manner which will require validation of anappropriate media storage device in order to obtain the reward, and in amanner which provides a disincentive to an original purchasing user tomake or allow unauthorized copies and/or duplication of their mediastorage device, as that will jeopardize their reward benefit on anongoing basis. Furthermore, the present validation system providesaccess to supplemental content, which may comprise the reward, therebyproviding a further incentive to consumers to purchase authorized mediastorage devices in order to gain access to the rewards, includingpossibly the access to the supplemental content.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the software and entertainment industry, a substantial source ofrevenues comes from the actual sale of media content to consumers. Thiscontent may include audio only content, such as in the form of music,readings, games, etc., visual only content, such as including textualmatters, or, as is becoming more common given the advances intechnology, a combination of audio and video content. In order toeffectively deliver the media content to consumers, media storagedevices are typically employed to contain at least a substantial portionof the content. Furthermore, as technology advances, new and increasingtypes of media storage devices are being made available so as to enhanceeither storage capacity and/or quality of the delivery of the mediacontent. Moreover, the media storage devices are often provided in asubstantially compact and interchangeable fashion such that consumersmay access the media content in any of a variety of locations, such asin an office computer, in a home computer, in a car, in a homeentertainment system, etc.

Unfortunately, along with the advances that result in the field ofstorage devices, many advances have also come about with regard to meansfor copying the content from one media storage device to another. Forexample, most computers now commonly include CD copying hardware (CDburners), which in addition to the legitimate purpose of permittingconsumers to make back-up copies of their data and media content forpersonal use, is also permitting users to make copies of variousdifferent types of media storage devices, including for example musicCD's and/or CD-ROMS and/or games and game cartridges, etc., andproviding them to other users, thereby avoiding the need for the otherusers to buy their own legitimate copy of the media content.Furthermore, in addition to CD's and CD-ROMs, many of which containaudio and video content, DVDs are becoming a very popular and veryprofitable type of media storage device utilized to provide high qualitymedia content to users. Also, as can be appreciated, DVD copying devicesand/or DVD copying software which copies a DVD's content to a CD-ROM orother device are becoming increasingly prevalent, and despite attemptsat encryption of the DVD's and/or other encoding, the copying of DVD's,either onto another DVD or onto a CD-Rom is becoming increasinglyfacilitated thus, providing another source to circumvent the need topurchase the media content, while still obtaining substantially the samehigh quality as the original media storage device. Also, as such copyingdevices generally make substantially complete duplication of the contentof a media storage device, even supplemental content and informationwhich are now being provided on a variety of media storage devices so asto provide consumer incentives for purchase of the media storage device,are also being copied. Accordingly, this additional content provides anincentive for an initial purchaser of the media storage device, however,copyists who may have an increased desirability for the media storagedevice because of the additional content are not required to purchase anoriginal based on the ability of the copying facilities.

As a result, it would be substantially beneficial to provide a mediaverification system which can provide consumers with substantialincentives to purchase their own media storage device containing theoriginally purchased media content, but which will also provide a strongdisincentive to the original purchaser to make or allow others to copythe content of their media storage devices. Furthermore, such a systemshould help promote the sales of the media storage device, enhancing itsattractiveness to consumers, and providing an additional marketing toolby which producers or distributors of the media storage devices, andespecially the content thereon, can identify consumers and target themwith advertising and further promotions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a media validation system. Inparticular, the present media validation system includes a plurality ofmedia storage devices each containing a quality of content thereon. Thiscontent can be audio only, video only, audio/video, or any other type ofcontent which consumers wish to purchase and/or utilize. Furthermore,the present system includes at least one user computer processorassembly that is structured to operatively access a select media storagedevice, preferably belonging to the user.

A verification module is also provided, and is communicativelyassociated with the user computer processor assembly, preferably viacommunicatively link therebetween. Of course, the communicative link canbe a direct link and/or can be a link via another local or remotecomputerized network, including the Internet.

Each of the media storage device includes a unique unit identifier.Moreover, the verification module is structured to identify the uniqueunit identifier of the select media storage device being accessedutilizing the user computer processor assembly. The verification moduleis also structured to receive user information associated with theselect media storage device having the unique unit identifier,maintaining that user information in association with the unique unitidentifier for the select media storage device, and applying a rewardcredit in association with the user. The verification module, however,only provides the credit in association with a first user who's userinformation is associated with the unique unit identifier for the selectmedia storage device, and as a result, users who are not the originalpurchasers of the media storage device will not be given the rewardcredit.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more clear when the drawings as well as the detailed descriptionare taken into consideration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment one of the mediavalidation system of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of themedia validation system of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown throughout the Figures, the present invention is directed towardsa media validation system, generally indicated as 10. In particular, themedia validation system 10 is structured to validate the authenticity ofa media storage device containing a quantity of media content thereon,in a manner which will not hinder and/or impede the legitimatepurchaser's use of the media storage device, and will provide them withenhanced benefits, while providing a disincentive to copying. As aresult, the present media validation system 10 includes a plurality ofmedia storage devices, generally 20. Each of the media storage device isstructured to contain a quantity of content thereon, preferably in agenerally conventional fashion. As a result, the media storage devicemay include any of a variety of available and to be developed mediastorage devices, including compact disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, chip basedstorage devices, such as smart cards, sim chips and RAM memory cards,mini disks, portable hard drive type storage devices, etc. Similarly,the content to be contained thereon may be identical on a number ofstorage devices, and can include audio or visual only content and/or acombination of audio and visual content such as in the form of movies,music, documents, software, games, etc. in any of the widely acceptedformats whether compressed, uncompressed, encoded, etc.

In addition to the media storage device(s) 20, the present mediavalidation system 10 also preferably includes a user computer processorassembly, generally 30. The user computer processor assembly 30 mayinclude a standard personal, desk top computer, lap top computer,terminal, workstation, handheld device, including PDAs, satellite orcable box or personal video recorders, telephones, etc., and/or anenhanced media player, such as an enhanced CD player, DVD player, etc.That may be connected to another processor, such as via the Internet. Inthis regard, the user computer processor assembly 30 is preferablystructured to at least be capable of operatively accessing a selectmedia storage device of a user, which will be the subject of validation.As a result, the computer processor assembly may receive and/or accessthe media storage device by a remote connection, a wireless or wiredconnection and/or in the case of CD-ROM's and/or DVD ROM's may beconfigured to merely receive and/or interact with the media storagedevice utilizing a corresponding drive or access assembly.

The present media validation system 10 further includes a verificationmodule, generally 40. The verification module 40 is preferably, but notnecessarily remote from the user computer processor assembly 30, and maybe defined by or on a remote, local or integrated computer processorassembly. Preferably, however, a communicative link, whether external orinternal, is further provided and structured to communicatively link theverification module and the user computer processor assembly that isoperatively accessing the select media storage device. In the case of aremote verification module 40, the communicative link 36 may beestablished via a computer network 32 connection, such as the Internet,and/or via a direct or local network connection. As a result,appropriate interaction, at least in connection with validation of theselect media storage device 20, can be achieved. Of course, it isrecognized that this interaction via the communicatively link 36 mayinclude the transmission of information between the user computerprocessor assembly 30 and the verification module 40, and/or the remoteaccess of the select media storage device 20 by the verification module40, either directly and/or by directing the actions of the user computerprocessor assembly immediately or at a later time.

Looking in further detail to the media storage device 20, each mediastorage device preferably includes a unique unit identifier 25associated therewith. This unique unit identifier 25 may comprise anyform of identifier, including alphanumeric identifiers, encodedidentifiers, etc. which will give the media storage device its ownunique identity. For example, in the case of an alphanumeric type ofunique unit identifier, the unique unit identifier 25 may be associatedwith the specific content on the particular media storage device, thusallowing the same alphanumeric entry to be utilized for other mediastorage devices containing different content and still be a unique unitidentifier. Of course, if desirable in some circumstances, the sameunique unit identifier may be utilized for a plurality of media storagedevices. Nevertheless, in the illustrated embodiment the unique unitidentifier included for each media storage device will not be duplicatedsuch that each selected media storage device can be individuallyidentified. Furthermore, it is preferred that this unique unitidentifier be appropriately associated with the content on the mediastorage device, such that a copy of the content to another media storagedevice will also copy the unique unit identifier therewith, andaccessing that copy of a selected media storage device will result inidentification of the same unique unit identifier. In this regard, theverification module 40 is structured to identify the unique unitidentifier of the select media storage device via the communicative link36. In doing so, the verification module 40 may directly access theselected media storage device 20 and/or may instruct the user computerprocessor assembly 30 to access the selected media storage device andretrieve, for identification, the unique unit identifier 25 therefore.

The verification module 40 is further structured to receive userinformation in association with the selected media storage device havingthe unique unit identifier. This user information may include any of avariety of types of information, including a users name or a random oranonymous user ID, however, in the preferred embodiments the userinformation will be information that can be utilized so as toeffectively identify a particular user in connection with the presentmedia validation system 10, as well as in connection with otherpromotional and/or informational matter, and/or access to supplementalcontent as will be described. For example, a user name and e-mailaddress may be appropriate in some circumstances. Furthermore, anappropriate cookie or other identifier may be provided so as tofacilitate future, manual or automatic identification of the user, suchas in connection with inquiries and/or other, different media storagedevices. The verification module 40, either directly and/or via anassociated computer processor assembly may also maintain this userinformation in association with the unique unit identifier, andtherefore the select media storage device, storing it for laterreference and/or utilization.

The verification module is additionally structured to apply a rewardcredit in association with a user whose user information is associatedwith the unique unit identifier for the select media storage device.Moreover, this reward credit is preferably applied only in connectionwith the first user. Looking further to the reward credit, this may beprovided in any of a number of different formats. For example, in someembodiments of the present invention the reward credit may include anidentified validation of the specific user so as to provide them withaccess to supplemental content, either on the select media storagedevice itself and/or at another location, such as via a download and/oron another accessible server. Further, in one illustrated embodiment thereward credit may include the application of points and/or a value inassociation with the specific user, the points and/or value beingutilized for the receipt of a further benefit. For example, the rewardcredit may be a series points and/or dollar value credits which may besummed in association with a particular user for a variety of differentmedia storage devices legitimately owned or purchased by the particularuser, and once the total reward credit reaches a certain quantity, theuser may be eligible for additional products, services, etc. As aresult, a purchaser of the select media storage device will have asubstantial incentive to validate their select media storage device,even if the content may be substantially available without validation,as this reward credit will be provided as a result of that validationprocess. Furthermore, consumers will be provided with a substantialincentive to purchase their own media storage device with its uniqueunit identifier, rather than making a copy of another, as only the firstuser to validate the selected media storage device will receive thereward credit. Naturally, as a particular user purchases more mediastorage devices and effectively validates them, the overall rewardcredit for them can increase, either permanently or until used orredeemed by the user. It is also noted, that the user will preferably beable to access information regarding their reward credit accumulation,such as through the use of a user identifier and accessing theverification module 40 or an associated processor containing theinformation. Also, the reward credits may be applied in association withcertain entities or associations, such as a specific record label, moviestudio, game company, etc., such that a user may accumulate differenttypes of reward credits, and may accumulate or increase reward creditsof a certain nature only by validating an appropriately affiliated mediastorage device. Accordingly, there may be an incentive to buy specifictypes of content or media storage devices to increase the accumulatedreward credit.

As a further incentive to prevent the copying of a media storage device,the verification module 40 will also preferably be structured toidentify and monitor subsequent validation requests in connection with apreviously validated media storage device. In this regard, a validationattempt for the same physical media storage device and/or of anothermedia storage device with the same content and the same unique unitidentifier associated therewith will be considered a subsequentvalidation request of the select media storage device. When such asubsequent validation request is sought, however, and the verificationmodule receives user information for a subsequent user in connectionwith the subsequent verification request, the verification module 40 isstructured to remove any unused portion of an issued reward credit fromthe first user. As a result, if a legitimate purchaser and therefore thefirst user of a selected media storage device provides their mediastorage device to a third party for inappropriate copying and/orinappropriately copies for a third party, they risk losing the rewardcredit if a subsequent user of that copied media storage device attemptsvalidation thereof. Of course, a subsequent validation request by thesame user will preferably not result in an additional value or pointtype reward credit being issued.

Looking to a further embodiment of the media validation system 10 of thepresent invention, the reward credit to be provided to the first usermay also include the providing of access to supplemental content. Thisaccess to the supplemental content, which can be provided in addition toor instead of a point or other value type of credit, is preferablyprovided so as to achieve a further incentive to purchase a mediastorage device and to obtain the necessary validation. In this regard,the supplemental content may include, in whole or in part, supplementalcontent 45′ that is contained directly on the media storage device, butis, however, maintained in an encrypted and/or otherwise concealedformat that is not readily accessible to the user absent validation withthe verification module 40. Of course, any conventional means ofencryption, encoding, concealment, etc. including those which requirewriting to the media storage device itself and/or which provide anencoded file and allow access to the supplemental content 45′ inconnection with a specific user computer processor assembly thatcontains a key, may be provided. Nevertheless, in any such embodiment,the verification module 40 is preferably structured to validate theselected media storage device and through this validation provide accessto the supplemental content, such as upon receipt of the userinformation in association with the specific unique unit identifier forthe select media storage device. If desired, the validation of theselect media storage device by the verification module 40 may beachieved in a manner which requires validation each time access to thesupplemental content is sought, and/or may be achieved in associationwith a specific user computer processor assembly such that subsequentaccess to the supplemental content in connection with the user computerprocessor assembly does not require re-validation. Nevertheless, in apreferred illustrated embodiment the verification module is preferablystructured to only validate the select media storage device for thefirst user that seeks validation of the select media storage device, andupon the receipt of user information associate with a subsequent user,will preferably un-validate the selected media storage device. As such,further, future access to the supplemental content that requiresvalidation is prevented. For example, in an embodiment whereinvalidation is required for each access to the supplemental content,un-validation may merely include a notation by the verification module40 whereby when a future validation is sought for the select mediastorage device, even by the first user once again, the steps necessaryfor validation and allowing access to the supplemental content are notperformed. In the case of a semi-permanent type of validation, such asin connection with the specific user computer processor assembly, theun-validation may include a removal and/or deactivation of a facility onthe user computer processor assembly that allows subsequent access tothe supplemental content. In this regard, the verification module 40 maycheck for any necessary un-validations on a specific user computerprocessor assembly in connection with a particular user when theyattempt to achieve future validations of other selected media storagedevices. Alternatively, a timed re-verification of the validationfacilities that are put in place on a specific user computer processorassembly may be required such that after a selected period of time, ifverification is not achieved such as due to the un-validation by theverification module 40, future access to the supplemental content cannotbe obtained. As a result, an original purchaser of the media storagedevice will be provided with a disincentive to allow others to copytheir media storage device, as that could restrict their future accessto the supplemental content, and indeed other users will have anincentive to purchase their own media storage device, as that will bethe only way they will be able to access the supplemental content. It isalso noted in this and other embodiments that the validation and/orre-validation may merely include the identification of portions of theuser information, such as a user name, in connection with the uniqueunit identifier, and/or another more complex and/or secure validationprocess that associates the user with the specific media storage device.

Looking to yet another embodiment illustrated in the Figures, thesupplemental content which comprises all or a part of the reward creditmay be maintained completely or partially remote from the select mediastorage device. This may include supplemental content that is to bedownloaded to the user computer processor assembly, and/or as in theFigures may include supplemental content 45 in the form of alternativeweb sites and/or services that can be accessed either via theverification module 40, as in FIG. 1, and/or directly or via thecommunicative link. In particular, the supplemental content 45 mayinclude a variety of different value added services and products,including previews of other content, interaction with other users ofsimilar media storage devices containing the same or related content,games, contests, interactive viewings and/or question and answersections with parties associated with the content on the media storagedevice, etc. Indeed, the variety of different types of supplementalcontent which may be offered in association with the select mediastorage device 20 may be rather large, and all function to provide asubstantial incentive to purchase the media storage device in order togain access to this supplemental content.

In such an embodiment wherein the supplemental content 45 is remote fromthe selected media storage device 20, the verification module 40 isstructured to limit access to all or part of the supplemental contentunless the select media storage device is validated, such as throughidentification of the user information and unique unit identifier.Moreover, the verification module is preferably structured to validateonly a first user who's user information is obtained in association withthe select media storage device and its unique unit identifier. Also, insuch an embodiment, access to the supplemental content 45 may beachieved by the first user either in connection with the use and accessof the select media storage device and/or independently, from anycomputer processor assembly, with or without the use of the select mediastorage device. The verification module 40, by identifying the firstuser, such as utilizing the user information and/or any additional userinformation and/or password, etc. which may be set for that first usercan effectively regulate initial and later access to the supplementalcontent 45, either directly and/or indirectly by providing the necessaryinformation and/or control to the operators and/or managers of thesupplemental content 45. Additionally, however, the verification module40 is structured to un-validate a select media storage device having aspecific unique unit identifier, and thereby limit access to thesupplemental content 45 upon receipt of user information for asubsequent user in connection with that select media storage device,which is indicative of a further validation request. For example, if acopy of a media storage device is made, and a subsequent user seeksaccess to the supplemental content, and thereby seeks validation of theselect media storage device by the verification module 40, theverification module 40, by appropriately correlating the unique unitidentifier for the select media storage device with the user informationcan effectively determined if a prior validation has already beenachieved for the first user. Validation so as to allow access to thesupplemental content 45 by the subsequent user, as well as possibly thefirst user during a future access, can therefore be denied to thatsupplemental user. Of course, if desired in this and all otherembodiments, the verification module 40 may be programmed such that morethan merely the first user can achieve validation, however, within thecontext of the present invention, it is preferably only the first userwhich can effectively receive a reward credit, such as in the form ofaccess to the supplemental content.

As with the other embodiments of the present invention, when thesupplemental content is available at least partially remotely from theselect media storage device, the verification module 40 is preferablystructured to un-validate the select media storage device having aspecific unique unit identifier upon an attempted validation by asubsequent user. This un-validation will preferably function to preventfuture access to the supplemental content by any user in connection withthe select media storage device having the unique unit identifier, eventhe preferably the first user. As a result, a substantial disincentiveis provided to the first user to prevent them from allowing copies oftheir select media storage device, as that may, in the future, limittheir access to the supplemental content. Moreover, also in thepreferred embodiment, so as to prevent the submission of common userinformation, and therefore the false designation of multiple users asthe same first user, the verification module 40 may be furtherstructured to un-validate the select media storage device having theunique unit identifier if more than one user is accessing or attempts toaccess any or select portions of the supplemental content in associationwith the same select media storage device having the unique unitidentifier. As a result, in an embodiment wherein multiple users providethe same user information in order to gain access to the supplementalcontent in association with the same select media storage device,un-validation of the select media storage device, and therefore arestriction to future access to the supplemental content is achieved.Accordingly, a user who allows copying of their select media storagedevice will risk the loss of the access to the supplemental content ifanother user, utilizing a copied version of their select media storagedevice also accesses it the supplemental content. Indeed, as a furthersafe guard the verification module 40 may also be configured so as toun-validate, and possibly require re-validation of a select mediastorage device having a specific unique unit identifier after apredetermined period of time and/or when supplemental content becomesout of date. This allows the use of time sensitive information as thesupplemental content. If a less restricted un-validation is desired, theverification module 40 may be configured so as to un-validate the selectmedia storage device having the unique unit identifier for only apredetermined period of time. Naturally, appropriate controls may beimplemented such that errors and/or other inappropriate un-validationsand/or validations can be modified and/or corrected by the verificationmodule. Moreover, the verification module, either directly and/orthrough interaction with the operators of the supplemental content 45can maintain an effective, continuous update of users associated with amedia storage devices having particular unique unit identifier in orderto determined when un-validation is appropriate.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

1. A method, comprising: validating a first user of a storage device byassociating a unique identifier of the storage device with informationrelating to the first user; applying a reward credit to the first userin response to validating the first user; permitting the first user toaccess supplemental content stored on the storage device in response tothe reward credit; and restricting the first user from accessing thesupplemental content in response to a second user at least attempting toaccess primary content stored on the storage device; wherein the rewardcredit may comprise points or value; and wherein the supplementalcontent comprises encrypted content.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe primary content stored on the storage device includes publiclyaccessible content.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingrestricting the first user from accessing the supplemental content inresponse to a non-validated user attempting to copy the primary content.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting non-validatedusers from accessing the supplemental content.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising making at least a portion of the stored supplementalcontent inaccessible prior to validating the first user.
 6. The methodof claim 1, further comprising permitting the first user more than asingle access to the supplemental content.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein validating the first user comprises validating the first userbefore permitting the first user to access the supplemental content. 8.The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the supplementalcontent, wherein at least a portion of the supplemental content isstored remote from the storage device.
 9. An apparatus, comprising:means for storing primary content in a storage device; means forvalidating a first user of the storage device by associating a uniqueidentifier of the storage device with information relating to the firstuser; means for applying a reward credit to the first user in responseto validating the first user; means for permitting the first user toaccess supplemental content associated with the primary content inresponse to the reward credit; and means for restricting the first userfrom accessing the supplemental content in response to a second user atleast attempting to access the primary content stored in the storagedevice; wherein the reward credit may comprise points or value; andwherein the supplemental content comprises encrypted content.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for storing the primarycontent as publicly accessible content.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9,further comprising means for restricting the first user from accessingthe supplemental content in response to a non-validated user attemptingto copy the primary content.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, furthercomprising means for restricting non-validated users from accessing thesupplemental content.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprisingmeans for making at least a portion of the stored supplemental contentinaccessible prior to validating the first user.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for permitting the first user morethan a single access to the supplemental content.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for validating the first user eachtime the first user accesses the supplemental content.
 16. The apparatusof claim 9, further comprising means for storing the supplementalcontent, wherein at least a portion of the supplemental content isstored remote from the storage device.